Reviewing a children's book from 2018 every day

Quit Calling Me a Monster! by Jory John, illustrated by Bob Shea

Summary: He’s sick and tired of being called a monster. Okay, so maybe he does have horns, claws, and fangs. And perhaps his feet clomp louder than most, his hair is wild, and he likes to roar, cackle, and howl at the moon. But do people really need to scream and run away from him when he’s innocently walking around, buying groceries, or trying to catch some sleep under your bed or in your closet? His parents were monsters, and he’s a monster, too. He can’t help it. And for the record, his name is Floyd. Floyd Peterson. The penultimate page has an exchange he appreciates: “Daddy, I think there’s a monster in my closet!” “No, son, it’s just Floyd Peterson.” “Oh…okay. Good night.” Much better. 40 pages; ages 3-7.

Pros: So many possibilities. Persuasive writing mentor text. Empathy for differences. Or simply a really fun read-aloud that will make kids laugh out loud.

Cons: Is it just me, or does the monster look like a hairy version of one of those dancing raisins from 1980’s commercials?